Forgetting the obvious tautological formulation of the title , and the
contradiction in the opening sentence ("draft final report"!) for a moment,
the content of the editorial is insidious to put it mildly.
http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=0801171. It blandly states that <[Mopa] will not impair the future of Dabolim airport nor reduce tourist business in South Goa; instead the second airport at Mopa will generate thousands of jobs and add to the strength of the tourism industry. It is also now affirmed that the two airports in Goa could co-exist profitably.>. As contended previously (late last year), there is nothing in the "draft final report" to guarantee that "the two airports in Goa could co-exist profitably ". Our contention is that the two airports SHOULD coexist, profitably in the case of Mopa and effectively in the case of Dabolim civil enclave but this has to be managed, day to day, year to year for 20 years. >From the experience of Hyderabad and Bangalore, it is possible to hide behind an ambiguity like "general aviation" (euphemism for VVIP flights) to discontinue civil aviation for the aam aadmi at Dabolim. This must be constantly challenged until it is clarified in black and white if a last minute agreement with the Mopa airport developer is not to put paid to it. 2. Dabolim's continuation of civil aviation for the aam aadmi depends critically on the business model, facility design and build-up over time as discusse ad nauseam on goanet. The picture regarding these aspects is as confusing as ever in the NT editorial: <Mopa, with the number of air travellers at 71,824 per year, will generate 14,552 direct and 19,762 indirect jobs by 2015.> The number of air travellers seems to be wrong. It works out to only 200 per day according to NT! Meanwhile the figures about employment are higher than those given earlier viz 8000 per year. Besides, most of these may be in construction. Nobody wants a flood of "migrants", right? Let's get the exact break up, ok? No other figures regarding the project cost, state government's financial liability and responsibilities regarding provision of utilities (see my post on "Game theory") are touched upon by NT. 3. <The concerns of hotels and businesses in the southern parts of Goa suffering a drop in clientele owing to the coming up of Mopa have to be addressed by the government by giving a fast road connectivity from various points between North and South Goa. The connectivity should not remain a [mere?] promise.> This is all well and good. But it can cut two ways. It can provide valuable connectivity to/from all parts of Goa to a fledgling regional airport at Mopa, i.e. increasing its "catchment area". It can also undermine the ability of Dabolim airport (with all its silly constraints) to compete with a full fledged international airport at Mopa and result in inadvertent closure of Dabolim civil enclave against the wishes of the people and a laissez faire government. The connectivity issue is critically tied to the business model of Mopa and the rate of upgradation of Dabolim civil enclave (which tends to go in fits and starts). Besides, as we pointed out earlier, upgradation at a cost of hundreds of crores is no guarantee that Dabolim will not be closed at the request of an airport developer in Mopa. This has actually happened in Bangalore. Goans who want to keep Dabolim open for historical and practical reasons have to watch their step at every stage -- and make sure the Government of Goa is on its toes too. Its just common sense though a lot of sweat and sleepless nights will be required. 4.<The Environmental Management Plan (EMP) of the project takes into account the environmental issues and suggests corresponding mitigation measures...if there are still concerns, the government must address them.> I dont know what EMP is beng talked about apart from the usual meteorological, drainage et al issues. Claude Alvares was once reported to have said no environmental impact assessment (which I take to mean impact on flaura, fauna, water supply, air pollution during construction etc) has been made for the Mopa airport project. It stands to reason that a small airport growing slowly and steadily will creat less environmental disturbance than a mega project completed on a crash basis. These are some of the concerns which crop up off hand due to the NT editorial. There must be an active debate to get the business model, design and build-up of the Mopa airport right to ensure that Dabolim civl enclave is not doomed to closure by carelessness resulting from complacency, generated, in turn, by such superficial editorials.
